New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Thursday announced a reservation of 4 per cent in the allotment of Central government housing to persons with disabilities, as part of the government’s move to ensure “equity, dignity, and accessibility in public services”.“In alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Directorate of Estates has issued an Office Memorandum to ensure fair access to central government residential accommodations for persons with disabilities,” according to an official statement.Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar has taken a landmark step towards inclusive governance, reaffirming the commitment to equal opportunities for all citizens under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan and PM Modi’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, the statement said.This initiative reflects the government’s dedication to the empowerment of every citizen and also strengthens the foundation of an inclusive and accessible India, the statement added.The government also runs various schemes, though the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) is a governmental body in India dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities.Established under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, DEPwD plays a pivotal role in formulating policies, programmes, and initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the nation.The DEPwD’s mandate encompasses various aspects of disability empowerment, including education, employment, social security, accessibility, and rehabilitation. Through its initiatives, DEPwD strives to enhance opportunities for PWDs to participate actively in societal, economic, and cultural spheres, thereby ensuring their full integration and contribution to national development.Key initiatives undertaken by DEPwD include the Accessible India Campaign, which aims to create barrier-free environments and promote accessibility in public infrastructure and transportation systems. Additionally, DEPwD oversees the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), which provides a comprehensive legal framework for safeguarding the rights and entitlements of PWDs.By advocating for inclusive policies, facilitating capacity-building programs, and collaborating with stakeholders at various levels, DEPwD plays a crucial role with the aim of fostering a more equitable and inclusive society by helping persons with disabilities realize their full potential and lead dignified lives.–IANSsps/pgh

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Taking birth control pills or combined oral contraceptives containing both oestrogen and progestin may triple the risk of cryptogenic stroke in young women, according to a study.Strokes without a known cause are called cryptogenic. It accounts for up to 40 per cent of all ischaemic strokes in young adults. Despite its prevalence, the contribution of sex-specific risk factors, such as contraceptive use, has remained underexplored.The findings add to a growing body of evidence linking hormonal contraception to vascular risk in women of reproductive age.“Our findings confirm earlier evidence linking oral contraceptives to stroke risk,” said lead author Dr. Mine Sezgin, Department of Neurology, Istanbul University.“What’s particularly notable is that the association remains strong even when accounting for other known risk factors, which suggests there may be additional mechanisms involved – possibly genetic or biological,” she added.The research included 268 women aged 18-49 years with cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS) and 268 age-matched stroke-free controls across 14 centres in Europe.Of the participants, 66 patients and 38 controls were using combined combined oral contraceptives.While the researchers note that further prospective studies are needed, they advise clinicians to exercise caution when prescribing combined oral contraceptives to women with known vascular risk factors or a history of ischaemic stroke.“Our findings should prompt more careful evaluation of stroke risk in young women, particularly those with additional risk factors,” Dr. Sezgin said.Next, the researchers plan to explore biological and genetic mechanisms underlying the observed association between combined oral contraceptive use and increased stroke risk to better understand how hormonal contraceptives may independently elevate stroke risk.The findings were presented at the ongoing European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2025 in Helsinki, Finland.–IANSrvt/

Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh), May 22 (IANS) Jan Aushadhi Kendras, established under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya…

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Do you follow the social media trend of taping mouth while sleeping to help breathe from the nose instead of mouth? Beware, it could pose serious asphyxiation risks.Asphyxiation is a condition where oxygen is deficient in the body, often leading to impaired breathing or suffocation.When the nasal passages are blocked, breathing switches from the nose to the mouth. Mouth breathing has been linked to sleep-disordered breathing, which includes conditions ranging from snoring to obstructive sleep apnoea, where breathing stops and starts frequently during sleep.However, a recent trend amplified by social media has some people taping their mouths shut at night to treat sleep-disordered breathing by preventing mouth breathing.Mouth taping has been recommended by many social media influencers and celebrities who claim it can lead to better sleep, enhanced oral health, and anti-ageing results.“Our research shows that taping the mouth shut during sleep is dangerous, especially among those who may not be aware they have sleep apnoea,” said Dr. Brian Rotenberg, an otolaryngologist and sleep surgeon at Western University, UK.“These individuals are unknowingly making their symptoms worse and putting themselves at greater risk for serious health complications like heart disease,” he added.The researchers evaluated 10 previously published studies to evaluate the potential benefits of sealing the mouth shut — using tape or other devices, such as chin straps — for a total of 213 patients.The practice “can make existing sleep-disordered breathing worse by restricting airflow, putting additional stress on the respiratory system, and increasing the risk of suffocation when patients experience a nasal obstruction” the team said, in the paper, published in the journal PLOS One.Out of the 10 studies, two suggested that among a subset of people with mild obstructive sleep apnoea, mouth taping may be associated with some slight improvement in a standard measure of sleep apnoea severity. However, other studies found no evidence that mouth taping might help treat mouth breathing, sleep-disordered breathing, or sleep apnoea.Four of the 10 studies included a discussion of a potentially serious risk of asphyxiation posed by sealing the mouth shut during sleep for people whose mouth breathing is caused by serious restriction or blockage of nasal airways.Serious nasal obstruction could result from conditions such as hay fever, chronic rhinitis, deviated septum, sinonasal disease, or enlarged tonsils.–IANSrvt/

Sydney, May 22 (IANS) Acute stress can disrupt the brain’s ability to manage emotions, particularly in people with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, according to a study.Researchers from the Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia found that stress can temporarily impair executive functions, which are mental processes like working memory, impulse control, and flexibility, crucial for regulating emotions and making decisions under pressure, Xinhua news agency reported.”These executive functions are vital for controlling emotional responses, especially in challenging situations,” said Tee-Jay Scott, from the varsity.”Our findings suggest that people with distress-related disorders may be more vulnerable to having these executive functions disrupted under stress, even when their symptoms don’t meet the threshold for a formal diagnosis,” Scott added.Executive functions, such as working memory (holding and using information), response inhibition (resisting impulsive actions), and cognitive flexibility (adapting to change) are key to maintaining emotional balance.The team reviewed 17 international studies and found that stress significantly affects working memory in people with depression and weakens impulse control in those with borderline personality disorder.These findings may explain why some people respond poorly to common treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy, which rely on these very cognitive functions, said Joanne Dickson, the study’s co-author and a professor at ECU.”If acute stress is interfering with the mental processes that support emotion regulation, it could undermine a person’s ability to benefit from these treatments, especially during periods of heightened distress,” Dickson said.While the study confirms a pattern of executive function impairment under acute stress, the researchers say more research to understand individual differences and refine treatment strategies is needed.The researchers also suggested building up cognitive skills before tackling emotionally intense therapy sessions.”Understanding how stress interacts with brain function is key to improving mental health outcomes,” Scott said.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Thursday launched a nationwide campaign to end plastic pollution, ahead of World Environment Day.World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5, and the theme this year is Beat Plastic Pollution. The day serves as the principal platform of the UN for encouraging global awareness and action for environmental protection.The mass mobilisation campaign ‘One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution’, highlights India’s unwavering commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. It is also aligned with the country’s flagship initiative — Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).“The campaign aims to nudge citizens to adopt eco-friendly alternatives as envisioned by PM Narendra Modi under Mission LiFE. Let’s move from awareness to action collectively by embracing sustainable living and end plastic pollution,” said Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister for Environment, while launching a pre-campaign video on social media platform X.Yadav urged people to move from awareness to action collectively by embracing sustainable living to end plastic pollution.The key area of the campaign includes awareness and advocacy regarding plastic pollution; reducing the use and generation of plastic waste including single-use plastic; managing plastic waste via segregation, collection, disposal, and recycling; and promoting the development of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic.This campaign is focused on creating awareness about the hazards of plastic pollution and promoting the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives. The aim is to nudge people towards more eco-friendly lifestyles through community education, behaviour change initiatives, and innovation in sustainable materials.The campaign will witness wide-ranging activities such as social media campaigns, nukkad nataks, public pledges, poster and essay competitions, and activities like Marathon.Clean-up drives at beaches, parks, riversides, campuses, tourist sites, railway stations, and rural areas, etc will also be held.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) US researchers have identified a widely used antidepressant drug that could shrink the growth of tumour and help the immune system fight cancer.Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), best known for the role they play in the brain, can significantly enhance the ability of T cells to fight cancer.In the study, published in the journal Cell, the researchers tested SSRIs in mouse and human tumour models representing melanoma, breast, prostate, colon, and bladder cancer.They found that SSRI treatment reduced average tumour size by over 50 per cent and made the cancer-fighting T cells more effective at killing cancer cells.”It turns out SSRIs don’t just make our brains happier; they also make our T cells happier — even while they’re fighting tumours,” said Dr. Lili Yang, senior author and a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA.”These drugs have been widely and safely used to treat depression for decades, so repurposing them for cancer would be a lot easier than developing an entirely new therapy,” Yang added.Yang and her team first began investigating serotonin’s role in fighting cancer after noticing that immune cells isolated from tumours had higher levels of serotonin-regulating molecules.At first, they focused on MAO-A — an enzyme that breaks down serotonin and other neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine and dopamine.However, because MAOIs have safety concerns, including serious side effects and interactions with certain foods and medications, the team turned its attention to a different serotonin-regulating molecule: SERT.”Unlike MAO-A, which breaks down multiple neurotransmitters, SERT has one job — to transport serotonin,” explained Dr. Bo Li, a research scientist in the Yang lab.”SERT made for an especially attractive target because the drugs that act on it — SSRIs — are widely used with minimal side effects,” Li added.Notably, combining SSRIs with existing cancer therapies also improved treatment outcomes.The combination significantly reduced tumor size in all treated mice and even achieved complete remission in some cases, the researchers said.To confirm these findings, the team will investigate whether real-world cancer patients taking SSRIs have better outcomes.–IANSrvt/

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health…

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) India’s food processing sector is on a transformative growth path, and with consumption trends aligning across urban and rural India, tier 2 and 3 cities are fast becoming the engines of economic growth, according to a new report.The sector supports over 7 million jobs across the value chain, directly and indirectly, while enabling rural industrialisation and reducing post-harvest losses.According to the report by Deloitte and FICCI, the sector accounts for approximately 7.7 per cent of India’s total manufacturing GVA (gross value added), and its critical role in generating employment, fostering rural development and enhancing value addition. The agriculture and food processing sector, representing nearly 30 per cent of the national food market, is gaining momentum due to rising rural demand, digital advancements and strong policy support.“India’s agri and food processing sector is on the brink of a transformative leap, where tradition meets cutting-edge technology to build a future-ready food ecosystem. Consumer demand is shifting towards clean-label, protein-rich and gut-friendly foods, driving a structural evolution in how India consumes food,” said Anand Ramanathan, Partner and Consumer Industry Leader, Deloitte South Asia.India is poised to lead the global narrative on health-driven, tech-enabled and inclusive food systems, fuelled by advancements in AI, IoT and blockchain. The opportunity before us is not just to feed a billion, but to do so with purpose, resilience and intelligence, he added. “India’s food processing sector holds immense transformative potential, both as a driver of economic growth and as a catalyst for inclusive development. As evolving consumer preferences and health-conscious choices reshape food systems, the need for resilience, innovation and value addition has never been greater,” said Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI.In addition, India’s record agricultural exports of $48.2 billion in FY24 and the global recognition of GI-tagged products highlight the sector’s export potential and its growing role in the world food economy.—IANSna/

Seoul, May 22 (IANS) Samsung Biologics, a biotech arm of South Korea’s Samsung Group, on Thursday said it plans to spin off its biosimilar development business to streamline its operations and focus on its core contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) services.According to a regulatory filing, the company will establish a new entity, Samsung Epis Holdings, which will later incorporate Samsung Bioepis, a biosimilar drug developer, as a wholly owned subsidiary, Yonhap news agency reported.The spinoff process will proceed with submitting a securities report on July 29, followed by a shareholders meeting on September 16 for final approval.Samsung Biologics explained that the split will allow the company to concentrate resources on its CDMO business, which operates under a different revenue model compared to biosimilars.CDMO refers to a company that handles not only the outsourced manufacturing of drug substances but also all of the innovation and development work that occurs before production.Samsung Biologics said the move is aimed not only at improving operational focus but also at addressing concerns from CDMO clients about potential conflicts of interest.In particular, the company acknowledged that some customers have raised concerns over the possibility that proprietary technologies for original drugs might be shared with Samsung Bioepis, which operates in the biosimilar space.”As Samsung Bioepis has been expanding its biosimilar business, the concerns of Samsung Biologics’ customers have gradually increased, which has had some impact on the competitiveness of our orders,” said Ryu Seung-ho, chief financial officer at Samsung Biologics, during an online briefing.”After the separation, we expect our customers’ concerns about conflicts of interest will be better addressed.”Samsung Biologics originally established Samsung Bioepis as a joint venture with US pharmaceutical company Biogen in 2012. It acquired Biogen’s stake for $2.3 billion in 2022, making Bioepis a wholly owned subsidiary.Ryu also emphasised that the spinoff is not part of any broader corporate governance restructuring within Samsung Group.By separating the two businesses, Samsung Biologics said it aims to reinforce the independence of both entities, allowing each to sharpen its strategic focus. The company said this will enhance competitiveness, operational efficiency, and long-term value for shareholders.Samsung Biologics is one of the world’s leading CDMO firms, reporting 4.54 trillion won ($3.3 billion) in sales and 1 trillion won in net profit in 2024.Shares of Samsung Biologics fell 1.36 per cent to 1.08 million won ($783) as of 11:37 a.m. The spinoff plan was announced before the market opened.–IANSrvt/